Horticultural Society nurtures those who like getting their hands dirty

CHICO &GT;&GT; "Come grow with us!" That's Chico Horticulture Society's standing invitation to anyone who likes or wants to get their hands dirty and grow things.

"Our primary interest is to assist and educate the public and our members on all topics of flora and horticulture including flower design and growing," said Susi Gillum, president.

Founded in 1921, "Chico Hort," as its members call it, is one of the oldest horticulture societies in the state. It is also a charter member of California Garden Clubs Inc., a statewide horticulture society chartered in 1931.

"The society has a long, long history and is very respected throughout the state. I go to horticulture events and when I tell people where I'm from, they say 'oh, I've heard about you guys.' I'm very, very proud to be a member of such a highly respected society," said Gillum.

Membership in the society stands at 57 and includes farmers, accredited horticulture judges, professional landscapers and gardeners, floral businesses, design shops, farmers and beginners.

"I knew about roses and iris but not much about any other kind of flower — what they do, where they grow, or how to take care of them," said member Dorothy Showmaker. "It's a learning process when you first start but at Chico Hort there are master gardeners, people who are knowledgeable who will help you."

The membership ranges in age from 50 to 90 with the majority falling between 60 and 80, said Showmaker.

For some people, membership in Chico Hort is a "family thing." Several current members, including Gillum and her husband Mike, are second and third generation Chico Hort members.

The Chico Hort lineage in the Gillum family goes back three generations to Mike's grandmother, Zoe Gillum, who represented Chico Horticulture Society and Butte County at the 1933 World's Fair on Treasure Island. His aunts and mother were also members. Mike became a member in 1951 and Susi joined in 1989. They are continuing the family tradition with their grandchildren.

"Mike and I are avid gardeners. Both our families lived in rural areas and did for themselves. If you love to garden there's nothing better than passing that passion on to your children and grandchildren," said Gillum.

In addition to sharing knowledge with one another, guest speakers and special program topics are included in the monthly meetings.

"We have such great programs. We've had them on drought, composting, worm farming and good and bad bugs and how to get rid of them safely. Of course, it's easier to get the bugs than get rid of them. But we learned about stuff that can be used around pets, like oatmeal. If you spread it around the snails will eat it and it expands killing them. If the dog eats some too, it won't hurt him," said Showmaker.

In addition to their own learning, Chico Hort also educates and gives back to the community through community gardens and school programs.

Club members have planted and maintained the gardens at the Chico library, the veteran's garden in the City Plaza, the garden surrounding the Chico Museum and, their most recent endeavor, the Humboldt Community Garden herb garden.

"I volunteer in the museum garden. I enjoy it. People come up and ask about the plants. One man, the owner of Madison Bear Garden, came up and told us what a wonderful thing we were doing by beautifying the veteran's garden. He was just tickled pink," said Showmaker.

While the community garden projects are near and dear to members, the School Gardening Program is "our most important" project, said Gillum.

Among the schools that have received grants are Hamilton High School, Chico Country Day School, Blue Oak Charter School, Nord School and Loma Vista School.

Each of these schools has used their grants to create gardens as well a variety of other horticulture-related projects. Loma Vista, for example, did a project on recycling food waste, creating a compost and building a worm bin.

"Nord Country Day has an outstanding project. They have received grants from us for many years. They are teaching the children how to grow their own and they have put in an orchard. The children reap what they sow and they learn how to cook the fresh food. They are also growing flowers which the children may pick and take home to their moms or their dads. It's very cool," said Gillum.

Choc Hort raises money for the School Gardening Program through its annual plant and flower sale every October and a few other smaller fundraisers. These money raising efforts typically garner about $1,500 for the school grants. Gillum's goal is to increase the fundraisers to increase the grant funds.

"This program is really, really important one to me. My goal is to try to increase the amount of grant money we can to the schools. I don't think there's anything better that to have a child learn to garden Something about putting seeds in ground and seeing them fruit. Children learn how to do something good. They also learn math, responsibility, taking care another living thing. It's incredible what this program does for these kids," said Gillum.